Easily mounted adjustable hinge

ABSTRACT

A hinge construction for utilization with cabinet doors which provides in one instance, lateral orientation of the door supported by one or more of the hinges, through a slot and retaining member arrangement whereby preferred disposition of the door of the cabinet with respect to the cabinet frame or stile is obtained. In another embodiment wherein the hinge portion, which is attached to the cabinet frame or stile, has a wrap-around portion for securement to the edge of the door frame or stile, an elongated vertically positioned slot in cooperation with a retaining means permits vertical placement of the cabinet door with respect to the stile or cabinet frame so as to obtain preferred aligned positioning of the cabinet door with respect to the cabinet frame or stile or to an adjacent door.

United States Patent 11 1 l 1 1 3,908,226

Read et a]. Sept. 30, 1975 EASILY MOUNTED ADJUSTABLE HINGE [75]Inventors George D Read Glcndonr Howard Primary Emminer-George H.Krizmanich B Gorton San Gabriel both of Attorney. Agent. orFirm-Mahoney, Schick & Cislo Calif.

[73] Assignec: Ajax Hardware Corporation. City of [57] ABSTRACTIndustry. Calif. A hinge construction for utilization with cabinet doors1 Fflcd' 1974 which provides in one instance, lateral orientation of[21] Appl. No.: 473,143 the door supported by one or more of the hinges,through a slot and retaining member arrangement whereby preferreddisposition of the door of the cabi- 16/130 16/137 net with respect tothe cabinet frame or stile is ob- {581 Fie'ld H1 H7 tained. In anotherembodiment wherein the hinge por- "ig 6 3 tion, which is attached. tothe cabinet frame or stile, I has a wrap-around portion for securementto the edge References Cited of the door frame or stile, an elongatedvertically positioned slot in cooperation with a retaining means per-UMTED STATES PATENTS mits vertical placement of the cabinet door withre- 686025 ll/l90l Cannon l6/133 s ec: to the stile or cabinet frame soas to obtain pre- 2 027 888 l/l936 Solomon 16/130 f d alignedpositioning f the cabinet door with :32 spect to the cabinet frame orstile or to an adjacent a a l 11 3.01am: 2/1962 WalSmuIh 16/129 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany l6/l29 15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US.Patent Sept. 30,1975

EASILY MOUNTED ADJUSTABLE HINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various typehinges for utilization with cabinets and the like, are well known in theart and hinges of the selflatching, self-closing or freely swingabletype have been proposed, all of which require installation by means suchas bolts, screws or rivets by workmen or installers that are reasonablyskilled in the mounting of doors to cabinets. A reasonable amount ofskill is required because of the fact that the cabinet door must beassociated with the cabinet frame or stile in a manner that will permitthe door to satisfactorily cover the cabinet opening.

It is also desirable to have a mounted cabinet door, horizontally andvertically correctly positioned, so that true lines are formed betweenthe door and the cabinet. In other words, it is desirable for obtainingan aesthetically appealing cabinet, to have proper alignment of thecabinet door with the cabinet frame.

The prior art cabinet hinges such as disclosed in .lerila, et al., US.Pat. No. 3,381,332 and Jerila US. Pat. No. 3,381,333, while satisfactoryin meeting requirements of hinges for utilization with cabinets, havenecessitated accurate installation and placement of retaining means suchas screws in the hinge leaves in order to obtain proper alignment of thecabinet door with the cabinet frame or stile. While hinges disclosed inthe aforementioned patents have allowed a certain amount ofadjustability, once the hinge leaves have been fastened to the cabinetdoor and cabinet frame or stile, such degree of adjustment has beensomewhat limited and generally requires loosening two or more screws oneach hinge member.

With the hereindisclosed invention, a type of hinge as disclosed in theforegoing Jerila patents may now be utilized in cabinet constructionsnot requiring a high degree of care in the initial placement of thefastening means with respect to either the cabinet door or the cabinetframe because of a range of adjustability in both the horizontal andvertical position; heretofore this has been unavailable in prior artdevices or has necessitated extensive millwork to the door and framemembers which is not required in the practice of the hereindisclosedinvention.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention toprovide a hinge construction which permits selected horizontal placementof a cabinet door with respect to the cabinet frame or stile.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a hinge forutilization with cabinets wherein the door leaf of the hinge is designedso as to make the door horizontally adjustable.

It is still another and further important object of the invention toprovide a hinge construction for utilization with cabinets wherein thedoor leaf of the hinge is provided with elongated slots which, incooperation with retaining means, permits horizontal adjustment of thedoor within a wide range.

It is still another important object of the invention to provide a hingefor utilization with cabinets wherein the door leaf of the hinge isprovided with a first elon gated slot carrying a button member which isutilized in retaining and horizontal positioning of the door of thecabinet in cooperation with securement means used to rigidly secure the,door leaf of the hinge to the door.

It is still another and more specific important object of the inventionto provide a hinge construction wherein the door leaf of the hinge isprovided with two horizontally extending elongated slots, one of whichslots is adapted to have disposed therethrough a securement meanswherein horizontal adjustment of the door with respect to the cabinetframe or stile is obtained and wherein the securement means tightlygrips gripping surfaces provided on the door leaf of the hinge.

It is still another and further more specific object of the invention toprovide a cabinet hinge of the wraparound type wherein the wrap-aroundportion of the hinge, which is secured to the cabinet frame or stile, isprovided with a vertically oriented elongated slot which permitsvertical adjustment of the door with respect to the cabinet frame orstile.

It is still another and further more specific object of the invention toprovide a cabinet hinge which is adjustable within selected incrementsin both the vertical and horizontal directions.

It is another and more further specific object of the invention toprovide a cabinet hinge having a cabinet frame or stile leaf of thewrap-around type which is provided with an elongated slot havingcontiguous gripping surfaces which, when a retaining means is disposedthrough said slot, provides rigid securement of the stile or frame leafto the cabinet frame or stile.

It is another, further and more specific object of the invention toprovide a cabinet hinge utilizing elongated slots having grippingsurfaces contiguous to said slots wherein retaining means comprising ascrew and an annular washer of deformable character, which providesgripping rigid securement between the leaves of the hinge and therespective door or stile to which said leaves are mounted.

It is still another and further specific object of the invention toprovide a cabinet hinge for utilization with cabinets which does notnecessitate a high degree of care with respect to the initial placementof the retaining means for securing the hinge in operative relation withregard to a cabinet stile and a door to be mounted thereon.

These and further objects of the invention will become apparent from thedrawing and the hereinafter following commentary.

Basically, in an exemplary embodiment, the invention pertains to anadjustable hinge construction for cabinets and associated cabinet doorscomprising a door leaf and a stile or frame leaf wherein the leaves areinterconnected by a hinge pin. The door leaf is provided with a firstelongate slot and a captively associated retaining member which has anextending portion adapted to be received in a retaining recess in thedoor to which the hinge is secured and to permit selected lateralmovement of said door leaf in relation to said door. A second elongateslot is provided in the door leaf and is adapted to receive a securementmeans to rigidly secure the door leaf to the door in a selected lateralor horizontal position. The second elongate slot is provided with aplurality of gripping means contiguous thereto for forming grippingsurfaces for retention with the securement means used to secure the doorleaf of the hinge to the door.

In another embodiment of the invention, the stile or cabinet frame leafof the hinge construction is provided with a wrap-around portion forsecurement to the edge of the stile or cabinet frame and is providedwith a vertically oriented slot adapted to receive securement means bywhich securement is obtained to the cabinet frame or stile in a mannersuch that vertical adjustability is obtained. Gripping surfaces areprovided contiguous to the vertically oriented slot to coact with thesecurement means to provide rigid and adequate securement of thewrap-around portion of the stile leaf to the edge of the stile orcabinet frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating oneembodiment of the hinge construction of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is'a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the horizontal or lateraladjustment of the hinge of this invention;

FIG. 4'is a view of another embodiment of the hinge of this inventionshowing both horizontal or lateral and vertical positioning capabilityof the hinge of this invention; I

FIG. 5 is a view taken the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the verticaladjustment capability of the hinge illustrated in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED:

While the inventive concept of the hinges of this invention will bedescribed with specific reference to the types of hinges as illustratedin the afore-mentioned Jerila patents, it is clear that the lateral orhorizontal adjustment feature and the vertical adjustment feature of thehinges of this invention where appropriate, may be utilized with varioustype hinges not necessarily those of the self-closing or self-latchingtype. Thus, the attributes of the invention may be applied to any typeof binge construction so long as the basic teachings of the inventionare followed as those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize.Additionally, while screws of the wood variety are illustrated, theordinary worker in the art will at once recognize that other securementmeans may be utilized without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 of the drawing, it will be seen that the hinge2 illustrated therein comprises the door leaf 4 for securement to, forexample, the door 6 and the frame or stile leaf 8 of general shape andconfiguration as is customarily found in the prior art, secured to thecabinet frame or stile 10. The leaves 4 and 8 are connected through aknuckle generally desig nated l2 and is of the type described,illustrated and claimed in the aforementioned Jerila patents, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Thus far, the hinge 2 is of prior art construction and the details ofwhich form no'part of this invention except as will be hereinafterdetailed.

The door leaf 4 is provided with a first elongate slot 14 having abeveled edge portion 16 extending from the edge 18 of leaf 4 inwardly asufficient distance for lateral or horizontal movement of the door 6will become apparent.

Captively received in the first slot 14 is a retaining member or button20 which has a depending or extending portion 22 adapted to betelescopically received in retaining recess 24 provided in theapproximate location of the door 6 and more specifically, the interiorsurface 26, to which the hinge 2 is to be secured. The retaining member20 is of deformable character, in this instance, of nylon and isfrictionally held within the slot 14 but permits movement of the doorleaf 4 even though the retaining member or button 20 is disposed in theretaining recess 24 provided in door ,6. The retaining member 20 may beprovided with an interior groove 28 so as to assure friction-fit withinthe slot 14 and may have a head portion 30 which is flush with theexterior surface of leaf 4 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. 1

Inwardly spaced from first slot 14 is a second elongated slot 32 ofsufficient length so as to be compatible with the horizontal adjustmentdistance permitted by the first slot 14. Additionally, the slot 32 is ofsufficient size so as to accommodate a securement means such as woodscrew 34. Contiguous to slot 32, a plurality of gripping surfaces 36 isprovided, in this instance, parallel grooves of serrated-likeconfiguration as will be hereinafter described, provides assured rigidsecurement of the door leaf 4 to the door 6. In circling engagement tothe head of the screw 34, is annular washer-like member 38, also ofdeformable character and in this instance, being of nylon or any suchmaterial or equivalent thereof, so that rigid securement may be obtainedas will be apparent.

Upon positioning of the hinge 2,.and more specifically the stile leaf 8,to the stile or cabinet frame 10 by traditional means such as woodscrews, the door 6 is ready to be mounted to the door leaf 4 of hinge 2.The door has been prepared by the placement of a recess such as 24 inthe approximate position where it is desired to position the door 6 withrespect to the stile or cabinet frame 10. If desired, a starting holesuch as, for example, 40 may be positionly aligned with recess 24, whichstarting hole is to receive the threaded portion of wood screw 34.Having thusly prepared the door 6 for mounting, the door is positionedby having the retaining member of button 20 received within the recess24 which acts to partially retain the door 6 while the screw 34, withaccompanying washer 38, is screwed into starting hole 40. However, priorto complete tightening of the screw 34, the door 6 is horizontally orlaterally adjustable as shown in the comparison between FIGS. 2 and 3.Thus, prior to complete tightening of the screw 34 into the door 6,lateral positioning of the door is permitted to the extent of the firstslot 14 and the second slot 32. Upon proper horizontal positioning, thescrew or securement means 34 is tightly fastened which forces thegrooves or serrated edges 36 into imbedding contact with annular washer38, which tightly, rigidly and securely retains door leaf 4 to the door6.

Thus, the screw 34, in conjunction with the gripping surfaces formed bythe grooves 36 being imbedded in the annular washer 38, and in somemeasure aided by the retaining member 20 being disposed in the retaininghole or recess 24 provided in the door 6, provides a means whereby ahinge construction is possible which permits horizontal or lateraladjustment of the door with respect to the cabinet frame or stile towhich it is mounted in an easy and facilitatedmanner.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, another embodiment of the inventionis depicted as it pertains to cabinet hinges of the wraparound type aswill now be described.

The hinge 52 comprises a door leaf 54 secured to a door 56 as alreadydescribed and of the same construction as that shown in FIG. 1. In thisinstance, however,

around configuration'which engages the'edge' of the' cabinet frame orstile 60. Again, the stileleaf58 and the door leaf 54 are interconnectedby means of knuckle construction 62.

The stile leaf 58 is of the conventional wrap-around type being providedwith a lateral lip or flange, not shown, to firmly grip the edge of thecabinet frame or stile 60. However, in this instance, the wrap-aroundportion of the hinge is provided with a vertically oriented slot 64 ofsufficient length and dimension to provide vertical adjustability of thedoor 56 with respect to stile or cabinet frame 60 and so as toaccommodate the securement means 66 in this instance, of the wood screwtype. Contiguous to the slot 64, is a plurality of gripping surfaces 68formed by the grooves in the stile wrap-around portion 58 of hinge 52,similar to that described earlier for the grooves 36. From FIGS. 5 and6, it will be noted that the grooves form a somewhat serratedconfiguration which again, in cooperation with an annular conformablewasher 72, encircling wood screw 66, aids in the securement of the stileleaf portion 58 to the edge of the stile or cabinet frame 60.

When utilizing the type of hinge such as 52, it will be noted that thedoor 56 is both horizontally adjustable as previously described for FIG.1, and is also vertically adjustable until such time as the screw 66 istightly fastened or taken up to cause imbedment of the gripping surfacesor grooves 68 into the washer member 72. Thus, the cabinet hinge 52permits both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the door 56 withrelation to the cabinet with which it is associated.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificconfigurations and the use of specific securement means, such as screws,etc., it is of course, obvious that other alternatives are possible and,in some instances, preferable This would also apply to the formation ofthe gripping surfaces as by means of the longitudinal or parallelgrooves such as, for example, 36 and 68, but other gripping surfaces canbe formed as those of ordinary skill in the art will at once recognize.Additionally, the shape or configuration of the retaining member such as20, while specifically shown, may be varied depending upon the endresults desired, so long as the essence of the invention is adhered to.

Hinges of the type shown and described in the figures of the drawing,have been fabricated and it has been found, for example, that suchconfiguration permits at least three-sixteenths of an inch horizontaladjustment with regard to a door utilizing such hinge, for example, asshown in FIGS. l3 inclusive, and that with regard to the type of hingeshown in FIGS. 4-6 inclusive, at least three-sixteenths inch verticaladjustment of the door is obtained. The retaining member, for example,disposed in a seven-thirty-seconds inch drilled hole, approximatelyone-fourth inch from the edge of a door, such as shown in FIGS. 1-3inclusive, aids to prevent sagging of the door with respect to thecabinet frame or stile. In each of the hinge constructions of theinvention, it has been found that the securement means may be loosenedand rctightened repeatedly without detrimental effect and thus, therehas been disclosed and described hinge constructions which are bothhorizontally and vertically adjustable with facility which providesmeans whereby cabinet doors may be easily associated with cabinetframes.

'We claim:

l.'-Inan'adjustable hinge construction for cabinets and associatedcabinet doors, the combination of: a I

door leaf and astile leaf, said" leaves beinginterconnectedthroughahinge pin, said door leaf having a first elongateslot and a captively associated retaining memher having an extendingportion adapted to be received in a retaining recess in a door to whichthe hinge is secured and to permit selected lateral movement of saiddoor leaf in relation to said door, a second elongate slot adapted toreceive a securement means to rigidly secure said door leaf to said doorin a selected lateral position, said second elongate slot having aplurality of gripping means contiguous thereto for forming grippingsurfaces for retention of said securement means.

2. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 1 wherein saidcaptively associated retaining member is configured to have a retaininggroove for accommodating the lateral edges of said first slot in matingengagement.

3. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 2 wherein saidretaining member is frictionally retained in said first elongate slot.

4. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 3 wherein saidgripping means comprise parallel grooves in said door leaf.

5. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 4 wherein saidretaining member is of deformable material.

6. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 5 including acabinet door having an accommodating retaining recess aligned to receivesaid extending portion of said retaining member in telescopingrelationship.

7. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 6 wherein saidretaining recess has a uniform diameter and said extending portion ofsaid retaining member is conically shaped.

8. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 7 including asecurement means comprising a screw having an encircling portionadjacent the head thereof which is deformable.

9. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 8 wherein saidscrew has an annular washer of deformable material adjacent the headthereof which is engaged by the gripping surfaces adjacent said secondelongate slot and the edges thereof when said screw is tightly securedto said door.

10. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 1 wherein saidstile leaf has a wrap-around configuration for securement to the edge ofthe stile of said cabinets.

11. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 10 wherein thewrap-around portion of said stile leaf is provided with a verticallyoriented elongated slot extending lengthwise of said wrap-aroundportion.

12. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 11 wherein saidvertically oriented slot has a plurality of gripping means contiguousthereto for forming gripping surfaces for retention of a securementmeans for retaining said stile leaf to said edge of said stile.

13. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 12 wherein saidgripping means comprises parallel grooves in said wrap-around portion.

14. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 13 including asecurement means for retaining said stile leaf which comprises a screwhaving an encir- 3,908,226 7 8 cling portion adjacent the head thereofwhich is deengaged by the gripping surfaces adjacent said vertiformable.

15. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 14 wherein saidscrew has an annular washer of deformable material adjacent the headthereof which is cally oriented elongated slot and the edges thereofwhen said screw is tightly secured to said stile.

1. In an adjustable hinge construction for cabinets and associatedcabinet doors, the combination of: a door leaf and a stile leaf, saidleaves being interconnected through a hinge pin, said door leaf having afirst elongate slot and a captively associated retaining member havingan extending portion adapted to be received in a retaining recess in adoor to which the hinge is secured and to permit selected lateralmovement of said door leaf in relation to said door, a second elongateslot adapted to receive a securement means to rigidly secure said doorleaf to said door in a selected lateral position, said second elongateslot having a plurality of gripping means contiguous thereto for forminggripping surfaces for retention of said securement means.
 2. Anadjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 1 wherein saidcaptively associated retaining member is configured to have a retaininggroove for accommodating the lateral edges of said first slot in matingengagement.
 3. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 2wherein said retaining member is frictionally retained in said firstelongate slot.
 4. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 3wherein said gripping means comprise parallel grooves in said door leaf.5. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 4 wherein saidretaining member is of deformable material.
 6. An adjustable hingeconstruction as defined in claIm 5 including a cabinet door having anaccommodating retaining recess aligned to receive said extending portionof said retaining member in telescoping relationship.
 7. An adjustablehinge construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said retaining recesshas a uniform diameter and said extending portion of said retainingmember is conically shaped.
 8. An adjustable hinge construction asdefined in claim 7 including a securement means comprising a screwhaving an encircling portion adjacent the head thereof which isdeformable.
 9. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 8wherein said screw has an annular washer of deformable material adjacentthe head thereof which is engaged by the gripping surfaces adjacent saidsecond elongate slot and the edges thereof when said screw is tightlysecured to said door.
 10. An adjustable hinge construction as defined inclaim 1 wherein said stile leaf has a wrap-around configuration forsecurement to the edge of the stile of said cabinets.
 11. An adjustablehinge construction as defined in claim 10 wherein the wrap-aroundportion of said stile leaf is provided with a vertically orientedelongated slot extending lengthwise of said wrap-around portion.
 12. Anadjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 11 wherein saidvertically oriented slot has a plurality of gripping means contiguousthereto for forming gripping surfaces for retention of a securementmeans for retaining said stile leaf to said edge of said stile.
 13. Anadjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 12 wherein saidgripping means comprises parallel grooves in said wrap-around portion.14. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 13 including asecurement means for retaining said stile leaf which comprises a screwhaving an encircling portion adjacent the head thereof which isdeformable.
 15. An adjustable hinge construction as defined in claim 14wherein said screw has an annular washer of deformable material adjacentthe head thereof which is engaged by the gripping surfaces adjacent saidvertically oriented elongated slot and the edges thereof when said screwis tightly secured to said stile.